AP Psychology Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the AP Psychology Exam with a comprehensive quiz that includes flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does the unconscious contain according to Freud?

Unacceptable thoughts and memories
Basic instincts
Conscious decisions
Learned information

The correct answer is: Unacceptable thoughts and memories

Freud's conception of the unconscious includes thoughts, memories, and desires that are not immediately accessible to conscious awareness, particularly those that are considered unacceptable or distressing. He proposed that these repressed elements influence behavior and emotions, even if individuals are unaware of them. For Freud, the unconscious serves as a reservoir for socially unacceptable feelings, fears, and traumatic memories, which the individual pushes out of conscious awareness to avoid anxiety and conflict. While basic instincts are a part of Freud's theory, as they drive behavior, the core of his idea about the unconscious specifically pertains to the unacceptable thoughts and memories that reside there. Conscious decisions and learned information, on the other hand, are associated with the conscious mind, where individuals have immediate access to thoughts and experiences. Therefore, the focus on the unconscious as containing unacceptable thoughts and memories aligns closely with Freud's theories, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between the conscious and unconscious mind in shaping human behavior and experience.